Join us from 12.30pm on the opening day of A Passion for Paisley to uncover the long-forgotten legacy of Edinburgh’s vibrant weaving industry.
Uncover with us the long-forgotten legacy of Edinburgh’s vibrant weaving industry. Immerse yourself in a display of these historic shawls from Heriot-Watt University’s Textile Collection. “A Passion for Paisley” is your exclusive ticket to explore the intricate threads of history, culture, and fashion that have woven Paisley’s enduring legacy. Don’t miss this chance to discover these captivating stories of a bygone era.
We are delighted to host three esteemed speakers to delve into the fascinating story of the history, culture, and fashion that have woven Paisley’s enduring legacy.
From 1.30 you can hear from Dr Dan Coughlan, Curator of Textiles at Paisley Museum, Dr Suchitra Choudhury, Researcher Affiliate at University of Glasgow and Dr. Britta Kalkreuter, Associate Professor in Design Studies Heriot-Watt University.
As well as the exciting opportunity to hear from all three of our speakers, your ticket for this event allows you a full days access to both the Great Tapestry of Scotland, and the chance to view A Passion for Paisley on its opening day!
Meet the Speakers
Dr Dan Coughlan
Dr Britta Kalkreuter
Dr Suchitra Choudhury
Dr Dan Coughlan is a Curator of Textiles at Paisley Museum. He trained as a handloom weaver in Ireland before studying textile design at NCAD, Dublin, and at the Scottish College of Textiles, Galashiels. He was awarded a PhD by UWS for his thesis on the 19th century draw loom, used for the weaving of Paisley shawls.
Dr Britta Kalkreuter is an Associate Professor of Design Studies at the School of Textiles and Design at Heriot-Watt University, where she also currently serves as Director of Research.
Her research focuses on heritage and innovation in design, with an emphasis on how exploring heritage may be harnessed as one guiding resource to transform design practices in the face of current challenges.
Suchitra Choudhury is a Affiliate Researcher at the University of Glasgow who specialises in English literature associated with India. Her monograph “Textile Orientalisms: Cashmere and Paisley Shawls in British Literature and Culture” was published last year with Ohio University Press. Suchitra has been a contributing advisor to Victoria and Albert Museum’s project of decolonising Scottish objects and designs.
Unfolding the Paisley Shawl
Through the international success of shawl production in the 19th century, the town of Paisley has given its name to one of the most iconic of all design motifs – the paisley pattern. This talk gives the background story of shawl production in Paisley, from its beginning in the early 1800s to its demise at the close of the century.
Anyone’s Heritage? Agency and authenticity of a well known motif
The talk considers how a pear-shaped image made it big on the global stage, over and again, and by touching upon aspects of the much-discussed concept of cultural appropriation invites debate on who might own such an ubiquitous design, and who should benefit from its continued popularity.
Sir Walter Scott and Paisley Shawls: Tapestry of a Love-Hate Relationship
Edinburgh and “Paisley” shawls were imitations of expensive shawls imported from India that became highly fashionable accessories in nineteenth-century Britain. In this talk, I will discuss how Scotland’s best storyteller Sir Walter Scott described them in fiction. Was he always in love with Paisley shawls or was his affection false and insincere? Come and find out!